News

UK: CHRISTIE’S narrowly missed out on what would have been one of the great marketing coups of the year when news broke that the body of Everest expedition leader George Mallory had been found.

UK: EXPERIENCED organiser Robert Bailey is set to take on one of the biggest challenges of his career with the launch next year of a quality antiques fair in the heart of Manchester.

UK: PRIVATE collectors, museums, dealers and exhibitions are the target audience for a new art insurance programme launched on the Internet.

UK: WEST Country auctioneers Lawrence’s of Crewkerne posted a house record on May 6 when they sold this pair of George III marquetry inlaid rosewood and satinwood card tables to a New York dealer for £150,000 (plus 12.75 per cent premium).

UK: BARRING an unexpected over-ruling by the Council of Ministers, the VAT charged on works of art imported to the UK from outside the European Union will double from 2.5 to five per cent on July 1.

ITALY: SOTHEBY’S have been informed that they can release to their purchasers the 23 lots on which the Italian authorities had requested a review of export licences immediately prior to the three-day sale of the Rossi Collection which ended on March 12.

UK: THIS review of two of the higher-profile sales conducted by Bonhams from their Northern foothold in Stockport begins (in reverse chronological order) with an April catalogue comprising the contents of two Yorkshire manor houses.